The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (551 page)

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THIRD time lucky

c
1840
letter
(1933) 5
‘The luck of the third adventure’ is proverbial.
1862
proverbs of Scotland
194
The third time's lucky.
1882
New Arabian Nights
II. 59
‘The next time we come to blows—’ ‘Will make the third,’ I interrupted …‘Ay, true … Well, the third time's lucky.’
1942
Death & Dancing Footman
vii.
It was a glancing blow… It might have been my head … One of them's saying to himself: ‘Third time lucky.’
1979
tr.
K. A. Blom's Limits of Pain
ix.
The expression third time lucky had something in it.

luck
;
superstition

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The THIRD time pays for all

1574
Mirror for Magistrates
(1946) 93
The third payes home, this prouerbe is to true.
1599
Warning for Fair Women
E3
The third time payes for all.
1855
North & South
I. xvii.
‘This is th' third strike I've seen,’ said she … ‘Well, third time pays for all.’
1922
Punch
20 Dec. 594 Mrs.
Ellison has already been twice married. The third time pays for all, so they say.
1978
Stand
III
. liv.
If I could have brought myself to jump once .. I might not be here. Well, last time pays for all.

perseverance
;
superstition

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third

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